Partner Up To Quit Smoking
Research from the UK’s Imperial College London found that quitting smoking works best when you’ve got company. Investigators enrolled 222 smokers, all of whom were at high risk of cardiovascular disease or already had had a heart attack and invited their spouses or partners to participate in a 16-week program. The smokers could use nicotine replacement patches and gum or the prescription drug varenicline, which is used to treat smoking addiction. When the program ended, 64 percent of the patients and 75 percent of their partners had quit smoking. The researchers found that the chances of quitting were nearly 6 times as high in couples who attempted to quit together compared to smokers who were on their own. Study leader Magda Lampridou said “partners can distract each other from the cravings by going for a walk or to the cinema and encouraging replacement activities like eating healthy food or meditating when alone. Active support works best, rather than nagging.” The study results were presented at the scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology.
Source:
Magda Lampridou, “Want to quit smoking? Partner up: Couples who attempt to stop smoking together have a sixfold chance of success.” Study presented at EuroPrevent 2019, April 12, 2019.
Also in this week’s bulletin:
- Move More & Live Longer
- Smart Phone Threat
- This Week’s Recipe: Cashew Poblano Ranch Dressing
